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As a ✨“Young Earth Savers Club”✨ member back in high school, I’ve always been into environment-friendly stuff. Back then, it was all about tree-planting, “reduce, reuse, recycle,” and saving the planet poster slogan making. Now that I’m an adult paying electricity and gasoline bills, I finally understand that saving energy also means saving money.
Now as I got older, I realized that being environment-conscious doesn’t always have to mean doing something big or dramatic. Sometimes it’s just choosing habits that make sense for everyday life. With summer bringing higher electricity bills and more road trips, I thought it would be a good time to share some simple things I personally try to do to save both energy and money.
And what perfect time would it be to talk about it? Yes, it has to be summer!
Summer in the Philippines is the perfect time for family road trips, great weather, kids are out of school, and the open road is calling. But with gasoline prices surging again, a little practicality goes a long way. Most of us are still driving fuel-powered vehicles, so here are some simple ways to enjoy summer while spending less at the pump.
Before any road trip, inspect your tire pressure, engine oil, coolant, and brake fluid. A well-maintained vehicle burns fuel more efficiently — and keeps your family safer on the road.
Remove anything from your car that you won’t need for the trip. Extra weight means the engine has to work harder. Even 50 kg of unnecessary load can noticeably increase fuel consumption.
This is something I learned from experience because I can really see the difference. Aggressive acceleration and hard braking waste a lot of fuel. Maintaining a steady speed of around 60–80 kph is the sweet spot for most fuel-injected engines. Ease into your speed and slow down gradually when stopping.
A car left under the sun heats up quickly, forcing your aircon to work overtime once you start driving again. Sun visors and shaded parking spots help reduce cabin heat — and the fuel needed to cool it down.
Map out your destinations before leaving. Batch errands together, avoid rush-hour routes, and plan your road trips so you’re not backtracking. Less mileage means less fuel burned — and more money saved.
With many of us now working from home most of the time, saving energy has become even more important. During the Philippine summer peak, the power grid is under heavy pressure, so every watt counts. These simple habits can help reduce electricity consumption and lower your monthly bill.
Every degree lower forces the compressor to work harder. A setting of 25°C is still comfortably cool and can help reduce aircon energy use significantly.
I used to think that once an appliance was turned off, it stopped consuming electricity completely. But chargers, TVs, and other appliances on standby still draw power. Get into the habit of unplugging devices or switching off power strips when they’re not in use.
LED bulbs use up to 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last much longer. If you haven’t switched yet, summer is a great time to start.
Run washing machines, dishwashers, and water heaters early in the morning or later in the evening — before 9 AM or after 9 PM — to help reduce demand during peak hours.
Ceiling and stand fans use only a fraction of the electricity consumed by an aircon. During cooler evenings, a fan may already be enough, allowing you to save the aircon for the hottest hours of the day. Additionally, pairing an electric fan with your aircon helps circulate cool air faster, allowing the room to hit your target temperature more efficiently.
Keeping curtains or blinds closed on sun-facing windows during the day can lower indoor temperatures by several degrees, helping your aircon work less often.
Keep your water cold in an insulated tumbler instead of opening the refrigerator repeatedly. Every time the fridge door opens, cold air escapes and the compressor has to work harder to cool it down again. A good tumbler keeps your drink cold for hours — no fridge needed.
At the end of the day, saving fuel and energy isn’t really about being super strict or saying no to everything. I think most of us just want to enjoy life while still being practical. These days, when gas, electricity, and groceries seem to keep going up, even small changes at home or during trips can already help more than we realize.
One thing I also appreciate now is how lucky many of us are to have remote work setups. Not having to commute every day already saves a lot on gas, transportation costs, and even energy spent outside the house. Saving doesn’t always have to feel difficult, sometimes it’s just making small choices that make life a little easier while still enjoying summer.
If you're curious to know more about Montani International Inc please feel free to explore our various online platforms and be sure to check out some of our informative articles, latest project updates, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of what it's like to work at Montani.
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